Number Two Nuclear Weapons Commander Suspended Over Gambling

United States Strategic Command, which oversees the military’s nuclear weapons and fighting units, has taken the “highly unusual action” of suspending its second-highest ranking official, Navy Vice Admiral Tim Giardina, for “gambling issues,” according to two anonymous officials who spoke to the Associated Press. Giardina was actually suspended at the beginning of September, but it was not announced because the Naval Criminal Investigation Service (better known as the NCIS, because of the shows) is still looking into thesituation.

For now, Giardina still has his job, though he is “prohibited from performing duties related to nuclear weapons and other issues requiring a security clearance.” However, a spokeswoman said Strategic Command head Air Force General Robert Kehler has asked that Giardina be reassigned, because the more risk-averse the people in charge of nuclear weapons are, thebetter.